DEUTERO-CANONICAL.) Those who do not con sider Purim to be the feast referred. to in John v:i, are divided between the Passover, the Feast of Dedication, and that of Pentecost ; Hengsten berg, with the majority of commentators, supports the last. Dicke concludes his able dissertation by observing that all sure grounds of deciding be tween Purim and the Passover are wanting.
The particulars of the mode in which the Jews observe this festival will be found detailed by Buxtorf (Synag. Jud.) and Schikford (De Syna gaga, in the Critici Sacra, vol. ii, p. t '85). We shall select a few of the most striking. The book of Esther, written on a separate roll of parchment, called on this account Megillah Esther, or simply Megillah, is read from beginning to end ; and even the reading of the law is on this day postponed to it. It may be also read in any language which the reader understands. When Mordecai's name occurs, the whole congregation exclaim, Blessed be Mordecai! and on mention of that of Haman, they say, May his name perish! and it is usual for the children to hiss, spring rat tles, strike the walls with hammers, and make all sorts of noises. These noisy portions of the cere mony have, however, been long discontinued in England, except in the synagogues of some for eign Jews. The remainder of the day is spent in
festivity, in commemoration of Esther's feast ; upon which occasion the Jews send presents to each other, the men to the men, and the women to the women. They also bestow alms on the poor, from the benefit of which Christians and other Gentiles are not excluded. Plays and mas querades follow ; nor is it considered a breach of the law of Moses on this occasion, for men and women to assume the garb of the other sex. It is even written in the Talmud (Tract. Mcgill. vii, 2), that a man should drink until he cannot dis cern the word 'Cursed be Haman' from 'Blessed be Mordecai.' But these injunctions are certainly not considered as binding; and the modern Jews, both at the feast of Purim and in their general habits, are remarkable for their temperance and sobriety. Ilatach (Esther iv and v) is considered by the Jews to be the same with Daniel. Purim is the last festival in the Jewish ecclesiastical year, being succeeded by the next Passover. \V. \V.